A much needed beach fix....

We decided that we needed a trip to the beach to take advantage of the long holiday weekend and to get our minds off the waiting for I-600 approval. We usually go for the week of the 4th of July, but since our travel plans are unknown right now, we just couldn't wait! Our favorite place in the world is Seagrove Beach/Seaside, Florida. We were married on the beach in Seagrove nearly 7 years ago, so it holds a very special place in our hearts!

We made that decision on Sunday, and we left on Friday, so the week was a whirlwind of getting ready. And Austin had swimming lessons with his best bud, Jay, every day (went great - yay!).

The beach trip was definitely a great idea. We wanted to spend some time just with Austin, since his whole world is about to change. We played on the beach, built sandcastles, did "wave-jumping", played in the surf, and swam in the pool at the condo (Austin's favorite!). We also rented bikes since we forgot to bring ours (duh!), and rode to Seaside each morning for breakfast. It is a beautiful place, and I'm so glad we went. We were supposed to come home Monday, but we were having such a great time, we decided to stay another night! It was a wonderful family time, but of course it's always great to be back home.

STILL NO WORD on I-600 approval, and now it's getting tough. We have thought we would travel in June all along, and now that June is - - - oh - - - - 2 days away, I'm getting very anxious. Hopefully we will hear something in the next week or two, and will still travel in June.

Kai is 7 months old today, and I just can't stand not to have her in my arms.....

P.S. Here are some pictures from our beach trip. Will post pics of the nursery next; we're almost finished with it!!

Finally Some New Pics!!

What a wonderful surprise it was today to see an e-mail from our agency coordinator with NEW PICTURES OF KAI attached!! The facilitator was unable to attach the pictures she took weeks ago, so she actually drove back out to the orphanage (which I understand is a couple of hours from Hanoi) and took some more that she was able to send!! I thought that was really amazing of her to do that for us.

Anyway, Kai has grown up SO much since her original referral picture, when she was almost three months old. She is A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!!! She's sitting up unassisted, too, which is a great indication of her motor skills and development. She has the sweetest face I have ever seen, and it makes me ACHE to not be able to go get her, right now, this very minute!! She looks healthy and perfect in every way, but her clothes actually look moldy in the picture....I hope that's not the case, but it looks pretty disgusting. I just pray she is getting all the love, nurturing, and nutrition that she needs. By the looks of it, she is getting that!!

YAY!!!!!!!!

SCHOOL IS OUT - FOR - SUMMER!!

Yes, school is out as of last Friday, so the summer months are upon us! It was a crazy-busy week with end-of-the-school year activities, kindergarten screening, Austin's last t-ball game and party, helping paint and caulk at our church's Habitat for Humanity build, and Supper Club at our house last night!! WHEW!!

Next week begins swimming lessons and a renewed focus on some of my volunteer work....

Last weekend was another baby shower for Kai with our sweet friends in Atlanta, and man-oh-man is she spoiled already!! A million thanks to the Leechs for hosting a fun, casual cookout at their house....and to "the Amys" for all that they did to make it a really special celebration! Kai got clothes (TONS of way too cute stuff, including her first bathing suit and coverup!!), shoes, a Bumbo seat, 3!! diaper bags (long story, but thanks Pottery Barn Kids for two separate screw-ups!), sippy cups, a blankie, bibs, a book and a bib, burp cloth and onesie from a really great Atlanta company, "Little Things". We have had so much fun "playing" with it all - - - and we are humbling by the outpouring of love and support we have received from everyone!

NOT ONE WORD from US-CIS regarding I-600 approval.....I'm going to have a button made to wear that says "No, we don't know when we are going to Vietnam yet"! Seriously, I am so touched that people care enough to ask, but I feel like a broken record!! My poor inbox is checked probably, literally, a hundred times a day during the weekdays (the approval will come via e-mail). I don't check as much on the weekends, because I know the government offices are closed, but even then I keep hoping some poor overworked data entry person is having to work overtime to catch up and maybe - just maybe - will have our approval to send! Also, because of the time difference (Hanoi is 11 hours ahead of us), I really hound my inbox in the early morning and late evening hours, when they're working.

All futile efforts at this point, but I WILL know right away when I do see the approval, and I will make every attempt to notify anyone and everyone who has asked me that question.....

Today is Day 26, and working day 15 (I think).

Just keep praying for an efficient and ethical process!!

Drumroll, please......

Yes, IT IS FINISHED!! It only took 3 months... :)
I am so happy to have pink girly-girl stuff in there!!

Just wanted to say "Happy Mother's Day" to all the wonderful moms I know and to everyone waiting to become a mom!! My sweet friend Claire had her baby today and got the best Mother's Day gift ever!! More posting later - - - lots to share, but no news on the adoption front......

Is it possible??

Is it possible to miss someone that you haven't yet met?? I have a real sense of missing Kai in the same way that I would miss Austin or Shawn (after a few days, of course! :)) It's like a piece of me isn't there....I really have to stay positive and strong. I got tired of being patient waiting on updated pictures from the facilitator in Vietnam (who was at Kai's orphanage weeks ago) so I sent an e-mail BEGGING for the pictures. Apparently she can't get the photos to attach to the e-mail, but she has been and is still trying to get them to us.....I've been hounding my inbox, hoping "maybe today"! I won't give up hope that they'll come soon.....and by the way, they could send our I-600 approval, too! Today is day 18 (business day 13, although I think there was some Vietnamese holiday last week, so it could only be like 10 -11!).

It has been a busy week with end-of-school year stuff, t-ball games, and.....is everyone sitting down??.....the closet is JUST ABOUT FINISHED!!! :) Shawn was out of town for a few days this week, so I painted the walls, ceiling, door and trim. All that's left to do is hang the light fixture and install the handle!! Can you believe it?!? I bought some clothes hangers yesterday, so I'm ready to get everything in there!

We are off to Atlanta today for another shower given by my "golden friends" in Atlanta: Suzanne, Michelle, Amy P and Amy H!! I am S-O-O feelin' the love!!!

Party Pics!

Oh my!!!

We were blown away by the baby shower this weekend!! Our friends in LaGrange outdid themselves in a big way - - - props to the hosts: the Hollstroms, Raglands, McMinns, Armstrongs, and Langstons!! There were 40 people there, the house and decorations looked beautiful, the cake was unbelievably pretty, the food was awesome, and everyone had a great time! Kai received many amazing gifts, including a pink tutu (thanks LJ!) and her first bling: a silver bracelet and a pearl bracelet!! We are so blessed by the outpouring of love this child is receiving already....

Am having some trouble getting the pictures uploaded, but check back.....

On my mind.....at 6 months

Kai was really on my mind yesterday! She's on my mind a lot, but yesterday she was 6 months old, and I could not stop thinking about her! I think so many things about her, but yesterday I was wondering if she is doing the things that Austin did at 6 months.

In an attempt to get absolutely everything done, organized, put away, etc. before she comes home, I have been scrapbooking four years worth of Austin's pictures.....don't tell anyone! :) I call it "quasi-scrapbooking", though, it's more like a photo album on pretty paper. It has been fun to go through all the pictures, remember all the fun times and how precious he was. Here were Austin's "milestones" at 6 months:

- Ate his first fruits and veggies
- Got his third and fourth teeth
- Pushed up on his arms
- Sat alone
- Looked at books

Little Kai, please come home soon!!